Startup lending of $5,000 to $75,000 for founders aged 18 to 39. No collateral required, and two years of mentorship are included. Futurpreneur is a national non-profit that receives federal funding and co-lends with BDC, rather than a government department.
Amounts and eligibility differ across the five. Check which one covers your situation before you start an application. The Core Startup Program provides up to $25,000 from Futurpreneur matched 2:1 with up to $50,000 from BDC. The Black Entrepreneur Startup Program splits it differently, at up to $50,000 from Futurpreneur plus $25,000 from BDC, with follow-on financing of up to $40,000 after two to three years of trading. The Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program matches the Core amounts. The Newcomer Program provides up to $25,000, split evenly. A Side Hustle Program covers founders building a business alongside a job.
| Amount | $5,000 to $75,000 depending on the program. |
| Type | A loan, repaid over five years. |
| Cost | The BDC portion is charged at BDC's floating base rate plus 1.65%, interest-only for the first year, with a $50 processing fee deducted from the first disbursement. Prepayment of 15% of principal each year is allowed without penalty. |
| Who qualifies | Founders aged 18 to 39 who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, with a business trading for up to 24 months. |
| Security | None required. |
| Obligations | Two years of one-on-one mentorship, which is a condition of the loan. |
| Timeline | Typically four to eight weeks. |
| Apply through | Futurpreneur directly. One application covers both the Futurpreneur and BDC portions. |
Core Startup Program: up to $75,000 total, made up of up to $25,000 from Futurpreneur matched 2:1 with up to $50,000 from BDC. Futurpreneur's own minimum is $5,000. Black Entrepreneur Startup Program: up to $50,000 from Futurpreneur (funded by RBC) plus $25,000 from BDC, with follow-on financing of up to $40,000 after two to three years of trading. Newcomer program: up to $25,000, split evenly between Futurpreneur and BDC. Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program mirrors the Core amounts.
Operating history window is 24 months, doubled from 12 months in September 2024. Two years of one-on-one mentorship is mandatory, not optional. Collateral-free.
Figures verified August 7, 2026 against the program's official source.
| Program | Type | Maximum | Apply through | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Futurpreneur Canada | Loan, repayable | $75,000 | Futurpreneur directly | 4 to 8 weeks |
| BDC Financing | Loan, repayable | $350,000 | BDC directly | 2 to 6 weeks |
| CSBFP | Loan guarantee, repayable | $1,150,000 | Your bank or credit union | 4 to 8 weeks |
Amounts, variants and terms: futurpreneur.ca
Facts on this page last checked 7 August 2026.
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